Skip to main content
Inside The Huskies

Ex-Husky McMillan Signs Rookie Contract with Bucs

The wide receiver is in a lot better place after hurting his knee last season.
Dan Raley|
Jalen McMillan signed his contract with the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Jalen McMillan signed his contract with the Tampa Bay Bucs. | Bucs

Nine months ago, University of Washington wide receiver Jalen McMillan grabbed his knee and writhed in pain near the end of the first half of a game at Michigan State, no doubt watching his football career flash before his eyes.

In what otherwise was a fairly uncomplicated time for the Huskies much of the way during their 14-1 run, McMillan's injury put a pall on everything in the middle of the season, diluting the offensive firepower some and leaving people to wonder if he would have to play yet another college season to make himself draftable.

As everyone knows by now, the situation worked out well for the talented pass-catcher, who was able to resume his career and become a third-round draft pick and the 92nd player overall selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On Wednesday, the 6-foot-1, 192-pound McMillan, in his full glory, signed what has been projected to be a four-year, $5.6 million rookie deal, with a $938,500 signing bonus.

Tampa Bay, with six former Huskies on the roster heading into the summer, has welcomed the Fresno, California, native with open arms.

"Oh, I love it," McMillan said after he was drafted. "I feel like I've been doing that my whole life, just playing up and having to meet expectations. I'm excited to put on a show for y'all."

He comes to the Florida NFL franchise full of great hope, after catching 164 passes for 2,143 yards and 17 touchdowns at the UW. And that knee of his feels pretty good.

For the latest UW football and basketball news, go to si.com/college/washington

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published | Modified
Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

Home/Football